Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Family group:

British War Medal 1914-20 (Rev. L. T. Pearson)

Pair: Acting-Major C. H. M. Pearson, Royal Field Artillery

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.A.); Victory 1914-19 (Capt,) good very fine and better (3)
£50-70

Leonard Thomas Pearson was born on 12 December 1884 at Shipley, Yorkshire. He gained a B.A. at Queen’s College, Cambridge in 1907, was appointed a Deacon in 1908 and Ordained Priest in 1910. He was Curate of Christ Church, Upper Armley during 1908-11 and Spofforth with Little Ribston during 1911-13. During 1913-16 he was Organising Secretary of the South Midlands District of the London Jews Society. He served in the Army Chaplains Department during 1916-19, entering the France/Flanders theatre of war on 26 February 1917. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 24 December 1917). After the war he was Vicar of St. John the Baptist, Portland, 1919-24 and Organising Secretary of the Barbican Mission to the Jews, 1924-27. Rev. Pearson died on 25 December 1978. Sold with a folder of copied research. Also with two books written by the recipient: Through the Holy Land, 2nd Edition, 1939, viii, 127pp, with b/w plates and dustcover; Through the Land of Babylonia, ix, 72pp, with b/w plates.

Cyril Harrop Maslen Pearson, brother of the above, was born on 14 April 1887 at Shipley, Yorkshire. A Schoolmaster by calling, he enlisted into the Army at Harrogate on 16 September 1914. Initially a Private in the Public Schools Battalion Royal Fusiliers, he was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery on 23 Noverber 1914. Later promoted Captain, he was appointed Acting Major from 5 May-23 December 1919. For his wartime service he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 May 1917). In 1920 he was offered a Regular Army commission as a Lieutenant in the Army Educational Corps - but declined it due to the loss in rank. He died at Harrogate on 19 February 1966 having resumed his career as a schoolmaster.. Sold with a folder of copied research.